Abstract
The organic fraction (OF; 25.7% w/w of rosmarinic acid) of Prunella vulgaris (total extract) was found to exhibit the following: scavenging activity on diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), inhibition of in vitro human LDL Cu(II)-mediated oxidation, protection of rat mitochondria and rat hepatocytes exposed to either tert-butyl hydroperoxide, or to Cu(II) and Fe(III) ions. OF also showed a potential to inhibit rat erythrocyte haemolysis and it reduced the production of LTB(4) in bovine PMNL generated by the 5-lipoxygenase pathway. Other observations included antiproliferative effects against HaCaT cells and mouse epidermal fibroblasts and a moderate OF antimicrobial activity on gram-positive bacteria. Rosmarinic, caffeic and 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)lactic acids exhibited less potent activity than the plant extract in all bioassays. The antioxidative, antimicrobial, together with antiviral effects offer good prospects for the medicinal applications of P. vulgaris.
Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Anti-Infective Agents / administration & dosage
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Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
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Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / administration & dosage
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use
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Antioxidants / administration & dosage
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Antioxidants / pharmacology*
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Antioxidants / therapeutic use
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Biphenyl Compounds
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Cations
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Cell Line, Tumor / drug effects
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Copper
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Free Radical Scavengers / administration & dosage
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Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology*
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Free Radical Scavengers / therapeutic use
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Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
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Hemolysis / drug effects
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Humans
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Iron
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Male
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Mice
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Microbial Sensitivity Tests
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Mitochondria, Liver / drug effects
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Oxidation-Reduction / drug effects
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Phytotherapy*
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Picrates
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Plant Extracts / administration & dosage
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Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
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Plant Extracts / therapeutic use
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Prunella*
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Rats
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Rats, Wistar
Substances
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Anti-Infective Agents
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
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Antioxidants
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Biphenyl Compounds
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Cations
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Free Radical Scavengers
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Picrates
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Plant Extracts
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Copper
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1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
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Iron